Horizontal gun rack with vertical locking rod



1960 J. CALOIERO ET AL 2,958,423

HORIZONTAL GUN RACK WITH VERTICAL LOCKING ROD Filed May 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

, INVENTORS. JOHN CALOIERO ALDO MICHELINI BY RAYMOND P. ROCCHI fnvnni ATT YS 6 J. CALOIERO ETAL 2,958,423

HORIZONTAL GUN RACK WITH VERTICAL LOCKING ROD Filed May 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m M lNVENTORSi JOHN CALOIERO ALDO MICHELINI RAYMOND P. ROCCHI limited States Patent HORIZONTAL GUN RACK WITH VERTICAL LOCKING ROD John Caloiero, Aldo Michelini, and Raymond P. Rocchi, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Artistic Wood Specialties, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 2, 1958, Ser. No. 732,657

6 Claims. (Cl. 211-4) This invention relates to a gun rack for mounting guns in horizontal position, there being an exterior locking rod to prevent removal of the guns from protruding pegs on the stiles.

The invention comprises a gun rack having a plurality of outwardly extending opposed pegs and an exterior locking rod. The locking rod has an element secured to the top thereof for interfitting engagement with the underside of a top rail. The rod is adapted, when in unlocked position, to shift downwardly in a hole provided in the lower fiat horizontal rail so that the rod may be quickly and easily detached from the rack. The underside of the lower rail is provided with an elongated transverse slot into which there is slidably mounted a tongue. The tongue, when in one position, closes the hole through which the rod is adapted to extend; and, in another position, uncovers the hole in the bottom rail to permit the locking rod to slide downwardly. The locking rod may be controlled automatically by the movement of a drawer which is locked beneath the bottom rail, or it may be manually operated by sliding the tongue to uncover the opening in the bottom rail. When the parts are in their normal position for locking the guns on the rack, the drawer may be locked by a lock and key, and thus prevent vertical shiftable movement of the rod. The pegs or dowels on one stile are received in the gun trigger guard, and the locking rod is arranged inwardly of the extreme outer ends of the pegs or dowels so that when the rack is in locked position, the guns may not be removed from the rack without seriously damaging the rack.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved gun rack for mounting guns horizontally, the guns being arranged on opposed pegs with a locking rod arranged slightly inwardly of the pegs so that when a peg is received in a gun trigger guard and the locking rod is arranged in position, the guns are prevented from being removed.

Another important object of the invention resides in the unique manner in which the upper end of the locking rod has interfitting engagement with the top rail, the lower end of the rod being receivable in a hole extending through the lower rail, there being a locking tongue to cover the hole to prevent downward movement of the rod when the tongue is in a predetermined position.

A further object consists in the provision of a slidable tongue mounted on the bottom of a rail to bare or cover an opening for the locking rod, there being means at the top of the locking rod which has interfitting engagement with an upper rail.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the specification which follows.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a certain selected embodiment of the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of the gun rack embodying the invention;

2,%58,423 Patented Nov. 1, 1960 ice Fig. 2 is a detail perspective exploded view showing some of the parts of the rack moved from normal assembled position;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the locking tongue;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

The particular gun rack 1 herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention comprises a lower horizontal rail or base 2 and an upper horizontal rail 3, which rails have their outer ends mortised in vertical upstanding stiles 4 and 5. The lower rail 2 has a drawer 6 arranged therebeneath.

The drawer 6, Fig. 2, is closed on five sides, being open at its top only. The drawer slides on slide rails 7 arranged on each side of the drawer, being receivable in grooves 8 formed on the inner sides of the stiles 4 and 5, as shown in Fig. 2. Drawer pulls 9 in the form of knobs are secured to the front of the drawer to open the drawer manually.

The stiles 4 and 5 carry fixed spaced pegs 10 and 11, respectively, in the form of elongated dowels, the pegs being slightly inclined as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5. The pegs 10 on the stile 4 are disposed in a plane lower than the pegs 11 of the stile 5 so that when a gun 12 (shown in phantom in Fig. 1) is mounted on opposed pegs, the gun will be positioned straight in a horizontal plane as shown in Fig. l.

The gun 12 comprises the barrel 13, the forearm 14, a trigger 15, a trigger guard 16, and a stock 17, Fig. 1. The gun 12 is mounted on opposed pegs 10 and 11 by applying the gun in such a position that a peg 10 will be received in the gun trigger guard 16 with the muzzle end of the barrel lying on a peg 11 of the stile 5.

One or more guns 12, which are adapted to be mounted on the rack 1, are adapted to be locked in position, that is, prevented from being removed from the rack, there being a unique locking device in the form of a vertical rod 18 arranged forwardly of the guns to prevent them from being removed from the pegs or dowels 10. The elongated vertically extending locking rod 13 extends from the base or bottom rail 2 up to the top rail 3, and the upper end of the locking rod 18 in. the present instance embodies a projection 19 formed on its upper end. The projection 19, Figs. 2 and 4, is provided with a transverse slot 20 intermediate its ends, leaving an outward projection 21. The projection 21 fits into a slot 22 on the underside of the top rail 3 adjacent the stile 4. The slot 20 receives the material which lies between the front edge of the top rail 3 up to the slot 22. Therefore, the member 19 is adapted to fit under the rail 3 with the projection 21 engaged in the slot 22, and the forward end fitting into the slot 20.

The bottom of the horizontal bottom rail 2 is provided with an opening or aperture 23 extending completely therethrough and in alinement with the locking rod 18 when the rod 18 has its end 21 engaging the slot 22. An elongated slot 24, Fig. 2, is formed in the bottom of the lower rail 2 adjacent the stile 4 to receive a tongue member 25, Figs. 2 and 4.

The slot 24, Fig. 2, has mitered or inclined sides so that the tongue 25, Fig. 4, is free for longitudinal slidable movement, but will be retained in the slot 24, being prevented from side movement because of the mitered or sloping side walls of the slot. The tongue 25, Fig. 5, comprises an inner end 26 which is thickened in the form of a knob 27 so that when the drawer 6 is pulled outwardly, the rear end of the drawer on the inside thereof will engage the knob 27 and pull the tongue 25 upwardly and outwardly so that the main body part 28 of the tongue will be away from the opening 23 and thus permit the rod 18 to slide down through the opening 23.

The rear end of the drawer 6 will engage the knob or protuberance 27 when the drawer is pulled outwardly to open position, and move the body end 28 of the tongue 25 away from the opening 23, and thus' permit the rod to move downwardly, thereupon permitting disengagement of the projecting end 21 from its slot 22. The rod 18, including the top extension 19, therefore, movesdownwardly, permittingthe extension 19 to drop out-of engagement with the top rail 3 and allow the rod 18 to be pulled outwardly of its hole 23, whereupon the guns are free to be removed from the rack by slipping the guns off the pegs 10 and 11. The body portion 28 of the tongue member 25 is of such length that ordinarily the opening of the drawer will permit the extreme end of the tongue to remain in its groove 24, but still not cover up the hole 23. However, the body end 28 of the tongue 25 must still be short enough so that when the drawer is pulled open, the member 25 will normally remain engaged in its slot 24.

Guns 12 are placed on cooperating opposed pegs 10 and 11 with the peg 10 received in the trigger guard 16, and the barrel of the gun lying on an opposed peg 11. The bottom of the locking rod 18 is then inserted through the hole 23 and then raised upwardly so that the pro jection 21 on the member 19 will be received in the slot 22. The rod 18 is. held manually in such position until the drawer 6 is closed, at which time the tongue member 25 will be pushed inwardly by the front of the drawer 6, whereupon the part 28 of the tongue member 25 will cover the whole 23 and prevent the rod 18 from moving downwardly. After the drawer is closed, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the drawer 6 may be locked by means of a lock 29 engaging a keeper 30 in the underside of the bottom rail 2, there being a key 31 to lock and unlock the drawer. However, the tongue member 25 need not be operated by the drawer, as it may be moved manually outwardly after the drawer is opened a distance sufficient to uncover the hole 23. Also, the rod 18 may be arranged in position manually with the projection engaging the slot in the upper rail 3 and the tongue 25 pushed by hand in its groove 24. The drawer may then be closed and locked.

The invention has been described as having the pegs 10 at a lower position than the pegs 11, but this condition may be reversed, whereupon the dowels 11 on the stile may be at the elevation described with respect to the dowels on the stile 4 with the dowels or pegs 11 located at a lower position than the dowels which are carried by the stile 4. In other words, the drawings show the gun 12 as having the gun stock on the left, but the parts may be reversed so that the gun stock will be at the right, Fig. 1, the elevation of the pegs 10 and 11 being changed so that the gun will remain at a straight horizontal position.

The invention provides a gun rack for supporting guns horizontally, and locking the guns in position by means of the locking rod 18 which is located a predetermined distance inwardly from the exterior ends of the pegs or dowels 10.

The rack may be very economically made; is relatively strong and durable in construction; and may be assembled quickly and readily.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fall fairly within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A horizontal gun rack comprising a pair of opposed stiles, pegs projecting from said stiles, the pegs on one stile being at a ditferent elevation than the pegs 0n the other stile whereby a gun will lie straight in a horizontal plane when the gun is applied to opposed pegs with the trigger guard of a gun passing through a peg of one stile, upper and lower rails between the stiles and secured thereto, a drawer beneath the lower rail, a vertical locking rod adjacent one stile and inwardly of the outer ends of the pegs and on the latter stile, said lower rail having an opening therethrough in which the rod may project, a projection on the top of the rod interfitting with the upper rail, a tongue slidable on the bottom of the lower rail and capable of being moved to close said opening, and means on said tongue engageable with the drawer upon opening of the drawer for moving said tongue to uncover the opening and permit movement of the rod therethrough and disengagement of said rod from the upper rail.

2. A horizontal gun rack comprising a pair of opposed stiles, pegs projecting from said stiles, the pegs on one stile being at a diiferent elevation than the pegs on the other stile whereby a gun will lie straight in a horizontal plane when the gun is applied to opposed pegs with the trigger guard of a gun passing through a peg of one stile, upper and lower rails between the stiles and secured thereto, a drawer beneath the lower rail, a vertical locking rod adjacent one stile and inwardly of the outer ends of the pegs on the latter stile, said lower rail having an opening therethrough in which the rod may project, a projection on the top of the rod interfitting with the upper rail, and a tongue slidable on the bottom of the lower rail to cover said hole, said tongue having a protuberance engageable with the drawer when the drawer is opened to move the tongue to uncover the hole to permit the rod to move downwardly into said hole and disengage the projection from the upper rail.

3. A horizontal gun rack comprising a pair of opposed stiles, pegs projecting from said stiles, the pegs on one stile being at a different elevation than the pegs on the other stile whereby a gun will lie straight in a horizontal plane when the gun is applied to opposed pegs with the trigger guard of a gun passing through a peg of one stile, upper and lower rails between the stiles and secured thereto, a drawer beneath the lower rail, 21 vertical locking rod adjacent one stile and inwardly of the outer ends of the pegs on the latter stile, said lower rail having an opening therethrough in which the rod may project, a projection on the top of the rod interfitting with the upper rail, a tongue slidable on the bottom of the lower rail to cover said hole, said tongue having a protuberance engageable with the drawer when the drawer is opened to move the tongue to uncover the hole to permit the rod to move downwardly into said hole and disengage the projection from the upper rail, and means to lock the drawer to prevent access to the tongue.

4. A horizontal gun rack comprising a pair of opposed stiles, inclined pegs projecting from said stiles, the pegs on one stile being at a different elevation than the pegs on the other stile whereby a gun will lie straight in a horizontal plane when the gun is applied to opposed pegs with the trigger guard of a gun passing through a peg, upper and lower rails between the stiles and secured thereto, a drawer beneath the lower rail, a vertical locking rod located inwardly of a stile and rearwardly of the forward ends of the pegs of the latter stile, a projection on the upper end of the rod, said upper rail having a slot receiving the projection, said lower rail having a groove formed on its underside and a hole through the lower rail in the path of said groove, said locking rod passing through said hole, and means in the groove to limit the amount the rod will pass through said hole, said last named means comprising a tongue slidably received in said groove to cover said hole to prevent the rod from passing through the hole beyond the tongue.

5. A horizontal gun rack comprising a pair of opposed stiles, inclined pegs projecting from said stiles, the pegs on one stile being at a different elevation than the pegs on the other stile whereby a gun will lie straight in a horizontal plane when the gun is applied to opposed pegs with the trigger guard of a gun passing through a peg, upper and lower rails between the stiles and secured thereto, a drawer beneath the lower rail, a vertical looking rod located inwardly of a stile and rearwardly of the :forward ends of the pegs of the latter stile, a projection on the upper end of the rod, said upper rail having a slot receiving the projection, said lower rail having a groove formed on its underside and a hole through the lower rail in the path of said groove, said locking rod passing through said hole, and means in the groove to limit the amount the rod will pass through said hole, said last named means comprising a tongue slidable in said groove to cover said hole to prevent the and having a protuberance thereon, said protuberance on said tongue being engaged by the drawer to move the tongue when the drawer is moved to open position, said tongue being movable manually when the drawer is in rod from passing through the hole beyond the tongue open position.

6. A horizontal gun rack comprising a pair of opposed stiles, pegs projecting from said stiles, the pegs on one stile being at a different elevation than the pegs on the other stile whereby a gun will lie straight in a horizontal plane when the gun is applied to opposed pegs with the trigger guard or" the gun passing through a peg of one stile, upper and lower rails between the stiles and secured thereto, a drawer beneath the lower rail, 21 vertical look ing rod adjacent one stile and inwardly of the outer ends of the pegs on the latter stile, said lower rail having an opening therethrough in which the rod may project, means on the upper rail engaging and holding the upper end of the rod in fixed spaced relation therewith when the rod is in locking position, stop means slidable on the bottom of the rail and capable of being moved to close said opening, and means on said stop means engageable with the drawer upon opening of the drawer for moving said stop means to uncover the opening and permit movement of the rod therethrough and disengagement of said rod from the upper nail.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 431,110 Driver July 1, 1890 697,614 Fergusson Apr. 15, 1902 2,616,566 Levy Nov. 4, 1952 2,667,274 Diebold Jan. 26, 1954 2,710,100 Vermillion June 7, 1955 2,752,046 Levy June 26, 1956 

